By Mary Jane Anderson

“I want to enter my dog in the Trick Contest. She can climb a ladder and slide down,” said a small boy with his large dog during Dog Day at the Hollow in Woodbury, Connecticut. Throughout the day, many children of all ages participated in the various activities with their dogs.

Dogs and children just naturally go together. Many parents buy a puppy for their child for the child to experience the companionship, which a dog can provide. But, too often, the responsibility for caring for the dog depends upon the parents. If you are considering buying a dog for your child, few suggestions could be helpful in laying the groundwork with the child before you buy the puppy.

A child must understand that having a puppy is a very important decision. Having a dog is fun to play with, a buddy to share happy and sad times. However, a child must also be aware of the needs of the dog to keep him healthy as well as happy. This means a daily routine before and after school, weekends, and holidays – everyday of the year.

Does your child understand owning a dog is a 10 to 15 year commitment? A dog is a living creature which needs food, water, shelter, visits to the doctor for inoculations and yearly checkup with boosters. These basic requirements needed for the health and welfare of the dog is the same as the parents provide for their children. Can the child do this for his dog?

If the child, realizing the commitment and responsibility, still wants a dog, let the child show he can be a responsible pet owner.

1. First have the child study books and pamphlets about the care of a dog as well as training a dog for good manners. Then, have the child explain to you what he has learned about dogs.

2. Have the child talk to a veterinarian about the medical care of a dog. Visit a dog show, look at the breeds, talk to the breeders about their dogs considering their personality traits, size and grooming. This will give the whole family help in making a more intelligent decision as to which type of dog would be suitable for the child and the family.

3. Buy a pooper scooper! Show the child how to use it properly and where to dispose the dog’s droppings. Ask a friend, having a dog, if the child could clean up her backyard after her dog. This is a true test for the child to pass as a responsible dog owner. Towns and cities have ordinances which require dog owners to clean up after their dogs.

4. Arrange for a child to walk, brush, feed, and care for the dog for a friend or neighbor on the street on a strict schedule for a month. If the child forgets to feed the dog, remind him the dog has suffered because of his neglect. Punctuality is part of responsibility. Children have busy schedules with school and after school activities. But, the dog’s feeding schedule can be adjusted so that both the child and dog can have a daily routine. Both can be accommodated.

During this testing period, the child may decide it is too much and can drop out of the program or possibly decide to wait. If the child passes the testing, congratulations! The child has truly decided to become a responsible dog owner with all its commitments.

You might question this approach before buying a dog for your child. Nevertheless, the child learns an important lesson in the care of all living creatures. You, as a parent, do not have the burden of caring for the dog that you bought for your child. The child has learned to be a responsible dog owner and the dog a happy member of the family.